Car for high-speed suspension railways



1,628 595 May 1927 F. KRUCKENBEVRG ET AL CAR FOR HIGH SPEED SUSPENSION RAILWAYS Filed Jan, 24, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 72 7 v 1 bd 17 7 1927. 1,628,595 F. KRUCKENBERG ETAL CAR FOR HIGH SPEED SUSPENSION RAILWAYS May 10 Filed Jan. 24, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 iil Patented May 10, 1927.

UNITED STATES- I RANZ KRUCKENBERG AND FRITZ GENTZCKE, 0F HEIDELBERG, GERMANY; SAID PATENT QENTZCKE ASSIGNOR T0 SAID KRUCKENBEBG.

CAR FOR HIGH-SPEED SUSPENSION RAILWAY S. I

Application filed January 24, 1925, Serial No. 4,572, and in Germany November 5, 1924.

-The invention concerns a'car for a high speed suspension railway attaining a velocity of 200 to 300 miles an hour, having a tor ped'o shaped body of so-called streamline form. In the arrangement shown the car is .suspended froma single rail on which the wheels run and is propelled by one or more air screws. I

In the present invention, owing to the necessity of saving weight. the whole hull of the car is shown as a frame-work lightly constructed of longitudinals, diagonals and (rors frames. The diagonals can be conveniently replaced by the outer skin of the car. Further, in this invention, in order,

to maintain the car section crossframes are employed having a passage-way through them. Moreover, in this invention the seats for the passengers are conveniently arranged so as to make good use of the available space and the longitudinal stiffening girders. In order to house the wheels of the car and also the brakes and running gear, a long fin or inverted keel is arranged, running along the itop' of the car which is covered like the rest of the car body. This fin or inverted keel contains. at the same tin 1e stiffening-memhers for the car frame-work.

In the drawings are shown several methods of constructing the car and details of the' same. gof the car-liull with the inverted keel; The frame-work of the hull is indicated with single lines and the outer covering. is re-.

moved. 5

Figs. 2,v 3 and 4 showfoutsideviews of similar cars and combinations of cars to a smaller scale.

Fig. 4 is a'detail view. of the ball 'oint and bufl'er which is disposed at 21 of Fig. 4.

i Fig. 5 is a section throughthehull of Figure 1 on the line AA. Y

Fig. 6 shows in sectional. elevation the interior of a car to smaller scale and serves among other things. to show the static conditions. I V

Fig. 7 is a section on the line BB of 'Fignre'l through the door. Figs. 8 and 9 are views of work in the neighbourhood of the windows.

Figs. 10, 11, 12 and 13 are vertical cross-' se. tion-.i-l views of four different types of door closures.

, Figs. 14, 15, 16 and 1-7 fare perspective 1 shows in side-elevation the outline' the car frame- As Fig. 1. shows, the frame-work of the streamline hull consists of longitudinals l,

verticals 2 and diagonals 3. Rather above the middle line, openingsfor windows 15 an provided in dia onal'frames 4. The meinfile the flanges of which are hers have-a pro curved or radiused, or a circular profile. (See Figs. 14-17.) The details of these members are more fully described later.

The sectional stiffness oi the car-hull is provided for by cross-frames 5 (see Figs 1, 5 and 6), which have anopening6 in the middle such to allow people to pass through freely. The appear in Fig. 1 as vertical members. Sirch cross-frames are also provided where the suspension-arms for the wheel work are fastened to the hull.

Further the cross-frames serve for dividing up the passenger-seats 8 and for transferring theweight of the passengers to the framework (Fig. 6). The seats 8 in this invention are provided along the curved walls'ofthe hull so that the passengers sit with their feet in the middle-gang way while the shape ".of the outer wall is convenient to lean against. Thewindows lie above the backs of the seats in the upper part of the curved wall so that the surface of the earth near to the car is out of sight of the passengers.

This is necessary in order not to disturb the p assengei"s sense of safety. With regard to' this the parts of the track have no influence owing to their nearness to the car.

Figs. 5 and 6 show the arrangement of the seats and the extent of the passengers view.

The arrangement of the seats is such as to allowthe use of deep section and; therefore economical longitudinals 9' below the'seats giving longitudinal stiffness to the car and serving also to support the seats and the cross-girders 10. These cross-girders sup- 'portthe floor and can'be made with a very small height so that the gang-way will not be too low. The space above the seats between the cross frames is used for stowing hand-luggage which rests'on the shelvesll.

The sectlon of the carbody" is most convenientl not of circular but of elli tic shape (Fi two special advantages. Firstly the area offered to side wind is smaller and secondly the accommodation of the passengers in a g. 5). ,This elliptic shape 0 ers its neck.

comfortably seated position is possible with the most economical use of the space. This is important for several reasons, one being that the weight of the car and consequently the axle-loads and the cost of the supporting construction are kept'as low as possible, an-

other that the air resistance and mass to be accelerated is reduced to a minimum. Since the fin 13 containing the running gear 12 to which is fastened the supporting arm 7 is situated above the hull of the car, the elrail 14 on one side in the form of a hook (Figs. 1 and 5) having a channel along one side which gives the necessary space for the rail. ,In the keel besides the runninggears 12 and brakework 52, 53 can also be stowed the fuel-, cooling-water-, and oil tanks and also the cooling arrangements and so on.

The frame-work of the car must be interrupted in .a statically unfavourable manner in order to provide window and door open-' ings 15 and 16. In the case of the windows as shown in Figs. 1 and 9 these disadvantages can be reduced or obviated by continuing the triangular panels by means of thediagonals 4 and 4 so that the unfavourable effect of the sheer force T in Fig. 8, in which rectangular windows 15 are shown for comparison, is neutralized.

' The framework is seriously weakened by the large door opening 16. This difficulty is overcome by means of a stiffening framework 17 above the hull (Fig. 1) for which the keel presents the necessary room and in fact the only possibility (see section of Fig. 7). the same time to transmit the horizontal forces of wheel and rail brakes to the framework'of the car. For this purpose the two supporting arms 7 are connected to the frame-works 17 by the longitudinals 18. Without this connection the brake-force B (see Fig. 6) would put too heavy a bending stress on both the arms 7 and the closed frames 5. The covering of the keel 13 can also act as stiffening for the carhull for example by continuing a frame-work over the whole length of the car.

A special construction of the car is shown in Fig. 2 consisting of two separate sections coupled closely together. In this case one bogie at the front and one at the rear' is all that is necessary for supporting the car. Should however the parts need to be sepajbe lifted out of contact with the rail.-

This stiffening framework 17 serves at rately movable twoextra-running gears 12 are required, which in order to allow curves to-be traversed with the two parts coupled together, must be mounted on traverse tables or with an arrangement such that they can separation of the parts of the car can be necessitated by need for repairs to the machinery. One can then couple the other part of the car serving as n'iacliinery-room or passenger-room or both to a fresh section. The car in Fig. 3 consists of three parts.

When two air screws, one in front and one behind, are used, one of them, preferably the front 19 of Fig. 3 can be constructed for high thrust especially for starting and slow running. At full speed this air screw can be allowed to run free or may be driven with special revolutions corresponding to its pitch. Both air screws 19 and 19 can be driven by a common motor or two separate ones. What has been said regarding forward travelling and starting is also applicable to backward travelling and braking. In contrast to Figs. 2 and 3 Fig.

4 shows two cars coupled together from 30- 60 feet apart by means of a strut 20. At 21 are arranged ball joints and buffers. Vari-. ous types of ball joints and buffering devices may be used to couple the cars and the strut 20, and one type ofdevice found suitable is shown in Fig. 4. In this device,strut 20 is provided with a slidable sleeve 56 which bears against spring 21. The curved part 63 of fin 13 bears against sleeve 56 and the and the closing of the opening presents some difficulties. It shall not increase the air resistance of the car nor interfere with the construction or smoothness ofthe hull. In this invention two methods of closing the opening have been considered. One consists of flaps that are hinged horizontally the other of a flexible blind which is like a. ja-lousie sliding in rails or channels inthe wall of. the car. Fig. 10 shows a doublefiap form, the lower part 23 hinging on the axis 25 and serving-as a foot-bridge 24 in case of emergency, the upper part 26 hinging upwards on the axis 27. The lower part can be fastened to theplatform 22 temporarily in order to prevent oscillations of the car as passengers step in and out. If

the car, in order to accelerate the fillingand emptying with assengers, is iii contact with the 'latform t en the arrangementshown in Fig. 11 is applicable. Here one flap 28 is hinged to the other 29 at the point 30 or less extent with the two previous methods.- The upper part of the channel 34 is hinged at'36 and at. the commencement of raising the jalousie 37 this upper part 35 is drawn inwards. But in lowering the jalousle the upper'part 1s pushed outwards,

' (for example) by the spring 38 so that the opening is completely closed aga'inst the ingress of dirt and wet. By turning the roller 39 on which the jalousie is wound the connecting band 40 is pulled and both the upper ends 35 of the channels 37 in which the door slides, are hinged inwards by means of the roller 41 together with the corresponding part ofthe jalousie on the axis 36.- In this manner that part of the car construction 42 is no way interfered with. The (possibly) electrically driven roller 39 lies in a space not otherwise needed." The closing arrange ment with its mechanism and operation involves no inconvenience to the passengers.

'lheconstruction of the girders and joints employs as far as possible the rules for lightconstruction because as already explained the saving of weight is essential. .As girders suited to the curves of the car surface are necessary they are made with curved flanges 43 or as tubes 44 (See Figs. 1417). Only with such profiles is it possible (for example) in the case of the outer ring-member of the cross frame 5 to fit to it the, outer skin of the ear shown by the line 45 'the angle of which varies considerably at different points of the car, without having a special profile at every point of the member. An open profile made up of two parts is shown in Figures 15 and 16. In this profile are shown holes 49 for lightness. Both parts 43 of Figs. 15 and 16 are joined by plates 47 provided with bellmouthed holes 48 suited to the curvature of the flanges, the plates being spaced appropriatel to the end thrust on the member. Fig. 1 shows a tube 44 provided with holes or slots 49 to facilitate riveting. Since such slots in an ordinary tube would not have sufiicient strength to prevent buckling at the edges the walls are strengthened 'bv thickening as at 50 so that the inner sectionhas an approximately square form which is well adapted to bending forces while the outer sectlon of the girder is of almost circular formwhich is the most favourable strutsecti'on. The part of the tube through which the slots will be punched or drilled can be located by a channel 51 on the outside. What we claim is: p 1. A high-speed suspension railway car body having'stream-line shape in its longitudinal direction and being of elliptical shape in cross-section, the upper portion-of said body being restricted in width similarly to a bottle-neck, and this restricted portion forming exteriorly a. longitudinally continuous fin, substantially as set forth.

2. A high-speed suspension railway car body having stream-line shape in its longitudinal direction and being of elliptical sha e in cross-section, the upper portion of said body being restricted in width similarly to a bottle-neck, and this restricted portion forming exteriorly a longitudinally continuousfin, the said body comprising elliptical members following one anotherin the axial direction otthe bodyand produc ing together the streamline shape of the body, substantially as set-forth.

3. A high speed suspension railway car body having stream-line shape in -its longitudinal direction and being of elliptical shape in cross-section, the upper portion of said body being restricted in width similarly to a bottle neck, and this restricted portion forming exteriorly a longitudinally continuous fin, the said body beingcomposed of interchangeable members elliptical in cross section following one another in the axial direction ofthe body and producing together the streamline shape of the body, in combination with running suspension gears to which said interchangeable members are attached, substantially as set forth.

4. A high-speed suspension railway car body having stream-line shape in its longitudinal direction and being of elliptical shape in cross-section, the upper portion of said body being restricted in width similarly to a bottle-neck, and this restricted portion forming exteriorly a longitudinally continuous fin, thesaid body being composed of a plurality of interchangeable members elliptical in cross section shaped each is stated, including a portion of said elliptical .shape in cross-section, the upper portion of said body being restricted in width similarly to abottle-neck, and this restricted portion forming exteriorly a longitudinally continuous fin, in combination with coupling-rods adapted to resist buckling stressand with ball-joints and buffers arranged at the points of oontact, substantially asset forth,

6. A high-speed suspension railway car, con1prising,-in combination, a car body haring stream-line shapein its longitudinal direction and being of elliptical shape in cross-section, the upper portion of saidbody being restricted in width similarly to a bottle-neck, and this restricted portion forming exteriorly .a longitudinally continuous fin, an air-propeller, and means for driving it, substantially as set forth.

7. A high-speed suspension railway car. comprising, in combination, a car body having stream-line shape in its longitudinal direction and being. of elliptical shape in cross-section, the upper portion of said body being restricted in width similarly to a bot.-

. tle-neck, and this restricted portion forming exteriorly a longitudinally continuous fin, an air propeller at the head of said car-body and'an airropeller at the tail thereof; and

means for riving them, substantially as set forth.

8. A high-speed suspension railway car, comprising, in combination, a car body ha ing stream-line sha-pe'in its longitudinal direction and being of elliptical shape in cross-section, the upper portion of said body being restricted in width similarly to a bottle-neck, and this restricted portion forming exteriorly a longitudinally continuous tin; a

s main air-propeller and a subsidiary air-propeller; and means for driving them, substantiall' as set forth.

9. A iigh-speedsu'spension railway car, comprising, in combination, a car body having stream-line shape in its longitudinal direction and being of elliptical shape in cross-section, the upper portion of said body being restricted in width similarly to a bot-' tie-neck, and this restricted portion forming exteriorly a longitudinally continuous fin; an' air-propeller for starting the car and increasing moderately the starting speed,

and a main air-propeller for full speed, the two propellers having different pitch, substantiallytas set forth. g

10. A.high-speed suspension railway car, comprising, in combination, a car body having stream-line shape in its longitudinal direction and being of elliptical shape in cross-section. the upper portion of said body being restricted in width similarly to a bottle-neck, and this restricted portion forming exteriorly a longitudinally continuous hollow tin; and running suspension gears for said car body, these gears being covered by sa'd hollow fin. substantially as set forth. 11. A high-speed suspension railway car, comprising, in combination, a car body having stream-line shape in its longitudinal direction and being of elliptical. shape in cross-section, the upper portion of said body being restricted inwidth similarly to a bottle-neck, and this restricted ortion forming exteriorly a longitudinaly continuous hollow fin, running suspension gears for the said car-body. and braking means therefor. said gears and means beingenclosedin said hollow fin, substantial] y as set forth.

12. A higlnspeed suspension railway car, coi'nprisin in combination, a car body having stream-line shape in its longitudinal direction and being of elliptical shape in cross-section, the upper portion of said body being restricted in width similarly to a bottle-neck. and this restricted portion forming exteriorly a longitudinally continuous hollow fin enclosing receptacles adapted to receive fuel; lubricant, cooling-water, and the like, substantially as set forth.

13. A high-speed suspension railway car body baring stream-line shape, in its longitudinal direction and being of elliptical shape in cross-sawtion. the upper portion of said bodybcing restricted in width similarly to a bottle-neck, and this restricted portion harming cxteriorly a longitudinally continuous fin; the entire hull of said body being devised as-a hollow lattice-work shell, substantially, asset forth.

14. A high-speed suspension railway car body having strean'i-line shape in its longitudinal direction and being of elliptical shape in cross-section, the upper portion of said body being -restricted in width similarly to a bottle-neck. and this restricted portion forming exteriorly a longitudinally continuous fin; the entire hull of said body being deviced as a hollow lattice-work shell and its outer skin being of sucha kind as to be adapted to stiffen said lattice-work, substantially as set forth.

15. A high-speed suspension railway car body having stream-line shape in its longitudinal direction and being of elliptical shape in cross-section. the upper portion of said body-being restricted in width similarly to a'bottle-neck, and this restricted portion tlorm'ing exteriorly a longitudinally. contins nous tin, the entire hull of said body being devised as a hollow lattice-work shell and its outer skin forming substitute for the body having stream-line shape in its longious fin; the entire hull of said body being j devised as a hollow lattice-work shell combined with transverse stilfeniug frameshaving each clear space in it's middle part, subw stantially as, set forth.

18.. A high-speed suspension ra'l'way car' body having streamline shape in its longitudinal direction and being of elliptical sha in cross-section, the upper portion of sai body being restricted in width similarlyto a bottle-neck, and this restricted portion forming exteriorly a longitudinally continuous fin the entire hull of said body being devised as a hollow lattice-work shell combined with transverse stiffen ng frames dividing the interior of. said body into coinpartments, substantially as set forth.

body having stream-line shape-in its longitudinal direction and being of elliptical shape in cross-section, the upper portion of said body being restricted in width similarly to a bottle-neck, and this restricted portion forming exteriorly a longitudinally contin -uous fin; and seats arranged in the longitudinal direction of saidbody along the interior wall-surfaces, substantially as set forth. n

20. A h gh-speed suspension railway car bodvhaving stream-line shape in its longi tii'idinal direction and being of elliptical shape "in cross-section, the upper portion of said body being restricted in width Similarly to 'a bottle-neck, and this restricted portion forming exteriorly a longitudinally continuous tin; and iseats arranged in the longitudinal direction of said body along the interior wall-surfaces, and baggage-carrying means provided above, said seats, substantially'as set forth.

- Fill 21. A high speed suspension railway car body having stream-line shape in its longitudinal direction and being 'of"-elliptical shape'in cross-section, the upper portion of said body being restricted in .width similarly to a bottle-neck, and this restricted portion forming exteriorly a longitudinally continuous fin; seats arranged in the longitudinal direction of said body along the interior wall surfaces, and longitudinal girders located below the seats and contributing to support them, substantially as set forth. v

22. A high-speed suspension railway car bod having stream-line shape .in its longitudinal direction and being of elliptical shape in cross-section; the upper portionof said body beingrestricted in width similarly to a bottle-neck, and this restricted portion forming exteriorly a longitudinally continuous. fin; seats arranged in the 101121- tudinal direction of said bod along the interior wall. surfaces; longitu inal girders ,located below the seats and contributing to 'support them; and lower transverse girders contributing to support the floor, substantially as set forth.

23. A high-speed suspension railwa car bodyhaving stream-line shape in its ongi; tudinal direction and being of elliptical shape in cross-section, the upper portion of said body being restricted in width similarlyto a bottle-neck, and this restricted portion forming exteriorly a longitudinally continuous fin; (lOOP-fOl'lIllIlg lateral openings in said body, and a lattice-work provided within said fin, substantially as set forth. s

24. A high-speed suspension railway car body having stream-line shape in its longitudinal direction and being of elliptical shape in cross-section, the upper portion of 19. A high-speed suspension railway carsaid body being restricted in width siinig larly to a bottleneck, and this restricted portion forming exteriorly a longitudinally continuous tin, door-forming lateral openings in said body; and a lattice-work proportion forming exte'riorly a longitudinally continuous finfdoor-forming lateral ope ings in said body; a lattice-work provided within said tin; and rigid means connecting the said body with the running gear, substantially as set forth.

26. A high-speed suspension railway car body having SlZl'QiUll-llIlB shape in its longitudinal direction and being of elliptical shape in cross-section, the upper portion of said body being restricted in width similarly to a bottle-neck, and this restricted portion forming exteriorly a longitudinally continuous tin; door-forming lateral o enings in said body; a lattice-work provided.

within said fin, and rigid means connecting the said body with the running gear and the brake-work, substantially as set forth. 4

27. A high-speed suspension railway car body having stream-line shape in its longitudinal direction and being of elliptical shape in cross-section, the upper portion of said body being restricted in width similarly to a bottle-neck, and this restricted portion forming exterior-1y a longitudinally continuous fin; window-forming o nings in the sidewalls of the said body; an diagonal bonds arranged in the proximity of said window-openings, substantially as set forth.

28. A high-speed suspension railway car body having streaneline shape in its longitud nal direction and being of elliptical shape in cross'section, the upper ortion of said body being restricted in wi h similarly to a bottleneck, and-this restricted portion forming exteriorly a longitudilrally continuous tin: seats arranged in the longitudinal direction of said body along the interior wall surfaces, longitudinal girders locate] below the seats, consisting of profilc-bars haying rounded-oft legs and contributing to support said seats, substantially as set forth.

29. A high-speed suspension railway car body having stream-line shape in its longitudinal direction and being of elliptical shape in cross-section, the upper-portion'ot' said body being restricted in width similarly to a bottle-neck, and this restricted portion forming exteriorly a longitudinally continuous fin, seats arranged in the-longitudinal direction of said body along the 111- terior wall surfaces, longitudinal girders located below the seats; anzl consisting of pairs of profile-bars having rounded-oil legs, and of perforated and flanged sheet-metal members connecting said bars with one another in appropriatedistances, substantially as set forth. l

30. A high-speed suspension railway car body having stream-line shape in its longitudinal direction and being of elliptical shape in cross-section, the upper portion of said body being restricted in width similarly to a bottle-neck and this restricted portion forming exteriorly a longitudinally continuous tin, seats arranged in the longitudinal direction of said body along the interior wall surfaces; and longitudinal girders located below theseats; and consisting of perforated tubes, therims of the tube-holes being reinforced, substantially as set forth. y

31. A high-speed suspension railway car body havin stream-line shape in its longitudinal direction and being of elliptical shape in cross-section, the upper portion of said body being restricted in width similarly to a bottle-neck, and this restricted portion forming exteriorly a longitudinally continuous fin; door-forming lateral openings in said body; door-forming flaps and horizontal hinges connecting said flaps with the body, the shape. of each flap corresponding exactly to the outer shape of the said body, suhstantialh as set forth.

32. A high-speed suspension railway car body having stream-line shape in its longitudinal direction, and being of elliptical shape in cross-secfon, the upper portion of said bod) being restricted in width similarly to a bottle-neck, and this restricted portion forming exteriorly a longitudinally continuous fin; door-forming lateral openings in said body shiftable walls adapted to close said door-forming openings; and guide means for these walls, substantially as set forth. I

233. A high-speed suspension railway car body having stream-line shape in its longitudinal direction and being of elliptical shape in cross-sectimi, the upper portion of, said boly being restricted in width similarly to a bottle-neck, and this restricted portion forming exteriorly a longitudinally continuous fin; door-foru'iing lateral openings in said body; shit'table shutter-walls arranged to be adapted for use as doors for said openings; and guide means for these walls, substantially as set forth.

EH. A high-speed suspension railway car body having stream-line shape in its longitudinal direction and being of elliptical' shape in cross-section, the upper portion of said body being restricted in width simi-- larly to a bottle-neck, and this restricted portion forming exteriorly a longitudinally continuous fin; door-forming lateral open ings in said body; shiftable slnltter-\-valls arranged to beadaptcd for use as doors for said openings; and guide-bars for these walls, these bars being hinged to the said body and adapted to be swung inwards, substantially as set. forth.

In testimony whereof we atlix our signa t-ures.

FRANZ KRUCKENBERG FRITZ GENTZCKE. 

